One group of elementary education majors received an algebraic instructional treatment of a unit on linear absolute value equations while another received a geometric treatment. The hypothesis of an aptitude-by-treatment interaction was statistically confirmed. (MN)

Looks at some facts, attempts to analyze some dilemmas, and makes some recrommendations with regard to the school effectiveness controversy, i.e., whether schools are effective in educating students and in being a joyful and productive educational experience. (Author/RK)

Discusses the difficulties that arise when tests designed for one purpose are used for another. Points out that tests reflect the characteristics of the institutions that use them and emphasizes the need for more careful design of actual instructional programs as well as of the tests intended to assess learning. (Author/GC)

Vocational assessment services increasingly are being provided to disabled secondary school students as a result of recent federal legislation. Describes the need for such services, presenting a vocationally oriented psychological evaluation of a disabled adolescent. Discusses traditionally derived school psychological assessment data in…

This checklist, designed to help elementary school teachers assess why a student is unable to complete a classroom assignment, lists criteria grouped under physical, academic, perceptual, behavioral, and motor factors. Compensatory actions such as adapting the classroom environment or referring the student for further evaluation are suggested. (CB)

A mental ability test and an achievement battery were administered to a large sample of grades 4, 7, and 10 students from a midwestern province in Canada. Findings, in general, showed higher achievement in a majority of subtests with no sex and jurisdiction interactions. (Author/LMO)

Research syntheses of individual bivariate studies of the effects of specific predictor variables on student outcomes are considered. Walberg's nine-factor model of educational productivity is used to organize the syntheses and to identify aptitudinal, instructional, and environmental variables linked with student achievement and learning. (TJH)

The aptitude treatment interaction hypothesis of Kaufman and Kaufman was investigated by examining the effects of matching teaching strategies with cognitive processing strength to increase disabled readers' (N=57) word recognition skills. Although results indicated a pattern supporting the predicted aptitude-treatment interaction, differences…

Describes an expert system microcomputer-based program, ZEERA, which is designed to help users understand and perform statistical analyses. Computer-assisted instruction and the traditional approach of drill and practice are discussed, and benefits of using ZEERA are described based on testing in a university elementary statistics course. (11…

Examination of measures used to predict the academic success of elementary education majors indicated that Scholastic Aptitude Test scores were valid predictors of school success. is noted that high school rank appeared to predict grades and took both ability and motivation into account. (CB)

An analysis of a survey of assessment practices of 131 school psychologists revealed that they most often used the Wechsler Scales to identify gifted, gifted/learning disabled, and learning disabled students despite the availability of newly developed tests. A number of training needs relating to assessment were also identified. (Author/VW)

The effects of independent, interdependent, and dependent group contingencies in increasing spelling performance of two classes of sixth grade students were compared using an alternating treatments design. Results suggest that all three contingencies substantially improving spelling performance on daily tests. (Author/LMO)

Criticizes the game-playing of students who participate in Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) preparation courses, are tutored, and take the SAT again and again to render themselves eligible for the college of their choice. Advocates the matching of academically compatible students and colleges without this artificial score boosting. (KS)

The cognitive style of 107 college juniors taking an education class at the University of Nebraska was measured using the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, the Inquiry Mode Questionnaire, and the Conflict Mode Questionnaire. The subjects' evaluation of teacher's competency was measured by the Teaching Analysis of Students questionnaire. Generally,…

Intended to provide the novice media researcher with an introduction, review, and current thinking on media-related research, this article traces the historical emphases and development of such research, discusses its positive and negative aspects, and presents recommendations by practitioners and researchers, as well as directions for future…